# NTSB CEN09CA468: Corvus Carone MK 1, N51299, Lee's Summit, MO, July 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2009, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Lee's Summit, MO - Coordinates: 38.955833, -94.380554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9558&lon=-94.3806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA468 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA468 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Corvus CORONE MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05621YO), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Corvus CORONE MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05621YO), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Corvus CORONE MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05621YO), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Corvus CORONE MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05621YO), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had been defueled and shipped to the airport with its wings removed. The wings were reinstalled and the airplane fueled with 2-3 gallons of fuel for an engine run prior to the pilot's arrival. The pilot taxied the airplane and obtained 19 gallons of fuel prior to departing on a maintenance test flight that was to remain in the traffic pattern to perform multiple touch and go landings prior to departing for another airport. The pilot completed one takeoff and landing and no mechanical anomalies were reported. The pilot then performed a second takeoff during which the airplane experienced a momentary drop in engine power while climbing through 300 feet above ground level followed an additional momentary drop in power while the airplane was on the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The engine experienced another drop in engine power and then backfired before experiencing a total loss of power. The pilot then performed a forced landing on a down sloping field with tall grass. Both wing structures were damaged resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot was uninjured. ## Factual narrative The airplane had been defueled and shipped to the airport with its wings removed. The wings were reinstalled and the airplane fueled with 2-3 gallons of fuel for an engine run prior to the pilot's arrival. The pilot taxied the airplane and obtained 19 gallons of fuel prior to departing on a maintenance test flight that was to remain in the traffic pattern to perform multiple touch and go landings prior to departing for another airport. The pilot completed one takeoff and landing and no mechanical anomalies were reported. The pilot then performed a second takeoff during which the airplane experienced a momentary drop in engine power while climbing through 300 feet above ground level followed an additional momentary drop in power while the airplane was on the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The engine experienced another drop in engine power and then backfired before experiencing a total loss of power. The pilot then performed a forced landing on a down sloping field with tall grass. Both wing structures were damaged resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot was uninjured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51299](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51299-2013-01-15), registration cancelled 2013-01-15, S/N CNE002, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Corvus Carone MK 1 - Registry model: [Corvus CORONE MK I](https://openairdocs.org/model/corvus-corone-mk-i) (registry code 05621YO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CNE002 - Airframe hours: 57 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Benham Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Benham Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 31, 2009 - Departed: LXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Destination: LXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Airport: LXT, Lee's Summit Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,100 total, 1 in this make and model, 4,667 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090723014889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090723014889A), Jul 23, 2009: Corvus CORONEMKI, Lee'S Summit, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that after takeoff from rwy 29, the engine momentarily lost power followed by immediate power restoration. While turning left crosswind,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74385. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 554 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - View of Crash (item 2, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=View%20of%20Crash-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.